it seems silly that a bike company would design a frame with slotted dropouts that don't allow decent tire clearance in the forward-most position. makes me nervous about buying one. I am coming off a Karate Monkey, which has SHORT chainstays and I can run a 2.35 in the back with the axle slammed forward in the slots with plenty of clearance.

it seems silly that a bike company would design a frame with slotted dropouts that don't allow decent tire clearance in the forward-most position. makes me nervous about buying one. I am coming off a Karate Monkey, which has SHORT chainstays and I can run a 2.35 in the back with the axle slammed forward in the slots with plenty of clearance.

I can fit a 2.4 Mountain King on a flow rim toward the front of the track ends. Rampage 2.35 pretty much slammed, and an Ardent 2.4 about halfway back.

Lets see those Vassago Jabberwocky builds....

I don't think it's so much a tire clearance issue for me, it's more of a gear and chain tension issue I was having. Probably coulda been solved just with a half link but my lbs didn't have one in stock but they did have a tire that I wanted anyways. I could fit the 2.3 pretty far up in the dropouts just couldn't getting chain length correct without a half link.

I can fit a 2.4 Mountain King on a flow rim toward the front of the track ends. Rampage 2.35 pretty much slammed, and an Ardent 2.4 about halfway back.

Tire clearance was never an issue for me.

Good to know. I have clearance issues with my 2.35 Racing Ralph pushed forward, using 32x20t gearing and Gusset half link setup. Had to switch to a 2.1 Small Block 8 (random spare tire) for the time being until I figure out another high volume tire to replace the RR. Even thought about a 2.25 RR.

jibbajabba

got my Jabber put together and took a little ride today. didn't get to see any REAL trails but rode through all the hills, mud, and rocky places I could find around my apartment complex. I experimented with three handlebars I had- Niner alu flat bars, Bontrager 17* flat bars, and Ragley Carnegies. I have never gotten used to the Bontys, and while the Carnegies are very comfy, I think the regular old flat Niner bars are the ticket. I shortened my Reba to 80mm of travel and I am running a 32/20 gear.

I like the feeling of the longer back end compared to my Karate Monkey, and I think it made the bike more stable while climbing. I feel like I have more traction. the steering was very different, kind of slow compared to my experiences, and I don't know if that's because of the longer TT for me, or if the HA is that much different.

Lets see those Vassago Jabberwocky builds....

Originally Posted by mack_turtle

got my Jabber put together and took a little ride today. didn't get to see any REAL trails but rode through all the hills, mud, and rocky places I could find around my apartment complex. I experimented with three handlebars I had- Niner alu flat bars, Bontrager 17* flat bars, and Ragley Carnegies. I have never gotten used to the Bontys, and while the Carnegies are very comfy, I think the regular old flat Niner bars are the ticket. I shortened my Reba to 80mm of travel and I am running a 32/20 gear.

I like the feeling of the longer back end compared to my Karate Monkey, and I think it made the bike more stable while climbing. I feel like I have more traction. the steering was very different, kind of slow compared to my experiences, and I don't know if that's because of the longer TT for me, or if the HA is that much different.

trying some squish up front and it rips. bones feel fresh after the 1.5 hr mark and i can take bumps much faster. like to race this bike, so fresher and faster a big plus.

I have just ordered some squish. I just built my jabber up this winter and it is my first 29er and my first SS . . . but my older elbows and shoulders have hinted at wanting to have front squish again.

I got a Manitou Tower Pro 80mm.

On the flip side, I will most likely have a nearly new Vassago Odis to sell.

nice shot! good looking jabber - no bling - just simple looking awesomeness. Not sure that is actually down under as nothing I can see in that picture can kill me. But if I could zoom in there is probably 3 deadly spiders and a snake

Giant mushroom

Originally Posted by indygreg

nice shot! good looking jabber - no bling - just simple looking awesomeness. Not sure that is actually down under as nothing I can see in that picture can kill me. But if I could zoom in there is probably 3 deadly spiders and a snake

No snakes or spiders this time of year, came across this today, I guess if it fell on your head it may kill you.
(Didn't take the Jabba today)

Lefty Jabber

I think someone in this thread was asking if anyone had seen a Lefty on a Jabber? Here's mine I've just finished with an ex-demo 2011 Lefty Carbon, fresh after it's first ride (it's bad luck to take a picture before it's been ridden!) Sorry about the bad phone-camera pictures...

Vassago Re-assigned. I built a Karate Monkey and the Vassago needs a new mission. Currently fully rigid steep gearing at 34x18 for NC. I rode both bikes this weekend, and decided the Jabber should be very different than the KM. The KM is set up rigid as well, 2.5 tires, pretty damn fun for NC singletrack. My thoughts are this:

27.5 29'r

I know this is a 29r forum but I put 27.5's on my Jabber and am really loving it. I'm 5'9" ish and really never got used to the 29 wheels. I fell more times on it than I have on any bike. Mostly in short tricky sections. I know the bottom bracket is low and I have gottn a few pedal strikes but it really handles well now.The first pic is a blurry cell phone. The second is on a sweep trail we have here.

Need the most help on wheelset. I need light and stiff but something able to handle my weight. I'm 6'2'' and 230/240 right now. During race season I'll probably be down to 210/220 (lighter if I take it serious).

So if money were no option, pick a fork and wheelset for a Clyde racing on the east coast.

Need the most help on wheelset. I need light and stiff but something able to handle my weight. I'm 6'2'' and 230/240 right now. During race season I'll probably be down to 210/220 (lighter if I take it serious).

So if money were no option, pick a fork and wheelset for a Clyde racing on the east coast.

I ran my Jabber at 100mm and now my VerHauen at 120mm. Love how these bikes handle with just that extra slack and a short stem.

That thing looks familiar I hope she is treating you well.
Fork: really light = Niner carbon or some other full carbon setup. For squishy go with a Reba or Sid set at 100mm. The Sid is lighter

Wheels: Arches with nice hubs. King, Hadley, or Hope. DT Swiss if you want really light, but less POE. Even the Stans ZTR single speed hubs are decent. A good buy for the money. The other option is Chinese carbon laced to any of the above hubs.

That thing looks familiar I hope she is treating you well.
Fork: really light = Niner carbon or some other full carbon setup. For squishy go with a Reba or Sid set at 100mm. The Sid is lighter

Wheels: Arches with nice hubs. King, Hadley, or Hope. DT Swiss if you want really light, but less POE. Even the Stans ZTR single speed hubs are decent. A good buy for the money. The other option is Chinese carbon laced to any of the above hubs.

Yup. I see you also responded to my wheels post on the MORE boards so you know where this is all going.

The Jabber is rocking. Haven't gotten much ride time as I'm currently doing some building on my new property. I figure I need to sacrifice riding time now so I can build trails and have much more ride time in the future. I really wish the new Bacon Ridge stuff would move forward already because that's like right down the street from me.

I'm running flows with Hadley's on my jabber and they're bullet proof, if you're going to turn it into a race bike at least look into the Hadley hubs you won't be disappointed. Mine are about 5yrs old and never an issue, break the rear down a few times a year (if you ride a lot) clean out the old oil and refill it with new Teflon oil, it takes about 30min. They roll like nothing else, zero drag. As far as a fork I've got a carbon niner so I can't give you any opinion on squish up front. Also I'm around 245lbs. And I've put this bike to the test, the Carbon niner is unbelievable! Hope this helps, good luck.

I'm running flows with Hadley's on my jabber and they're bullet proof, if you're going to turn it into a race bike at least look into the Hadley hubs you won't be disappointed. Mine are about 5yrs old and never an issue, break the rear down a few times a year (if you ride a lot) clean out the old oil and refill it with new Teflon oil, it takes about 30min. They roll like nothing else, zero drag. As far as a fork I've got a carbon niner so I can't give you any opinion on squish up front. Also I'm around 245lbs. And I've put this bike to the test, the Carbon niner is unbelievable! Hope this helps, good luck.

I think I'm sold on Hadley. Just need to make the final call on spokes and rim. And then save up enough money for them haha.

I thought about the Niner or the Whiskey carbon fork. At the end of the day, I have the ODIS so I feel like for the sake of options in the stable, I would switch it up with a squish.

"Parting" Ways

After a 1 year affair with a Karate Monkey, I am parting out my 3 y/o Jabberwocky. I had the opportunity to ride both bikes this weekend on the same trail, and the Jabber just doesn't do it for me anymore. What I like about the KM is that it is waayyy more lively and nimble. I just can't turn the thing like I want to. I am no geometry expert, but I attribute that to the long chainstays / long wheelbase even though I have the wheel "slammed".
I want to go even further in the opposite direction of the Jabber and buy a Canfield Nimble 9 with even tigher / slacker geometry. I just thought I would share my perspective since it was this thread that inspired me to build one in the first place.

who else is riding a new Jabber? I had one of the old ones a few years ago and ended up not liking it. I am 5'9" and bought a small frame. it looks like they refined the geometry in some ways that I will like. probably going to go for a medium this time around, short stem, wider bars, 120mm fork and maybe a rigid fork as a backup/alternate option.

if you're looking for detailed information about Vassago frames, go to their "shop" site, as the main site has some missing information: JabberWocky Frame

Ok thank you. Mine is the same as the green one posted below your photo in Simpsan's reply. The decals on yours are different and you also appear to have bosses on the underside of the down tube which mine does not have. The ones on the website look also look different to yours and are different colours, hence my query.

Certainly loving my 2017 Jabber. I was initially caught off guard by the size increase on the Vassago logo compared to the website, but I guess I'm okay with it in the end. The extra downtube bosses were a welcome surprise! I plan to get an everything style cage to mount there on bikepacking trips so I can take some weight out of my Camelbak. The thing rides smooth as silk, proving once again that steel is real.